UAE visas for Pakistani travellers return to previous monthly pace

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has resumed issuing visas to Pakistani nationals at the pace seen before, with about 30,000 visas now being granted online each month, diplomatic sources said. They described the volume as a return to the pattern that had been in place for years.

Key facts

• UAE visas issued online to Pakistani nationals are averaging about 30,000 a month, diplomatic sources said.
• Travel agents are also using the facility in addition to that number.
• About 2.2 million Pakistanis are currently working in the UAE.
• Around 3,500 Pakistanis were deported from the UAE over a period of months.
• No Pakistani has been forced to leave the UAE in recent weeks, the sources said.

What has changed?

Diplomatic sources said the number of visas issued online to Pakistani nationals has picked up again to its former level. They said ties between Pakistan and the UAE have returned to their decade-old trajectory. The sources also noted that travel agents are making use of the visa facility in addition to the monthly figure.

Who is affected?

The development concerns Pakistani nationals seeking to travel to the UAE. The sources said 2.2 million Pakistanis are working in the UAE, and that the number of those deported was about 3,500 over months. They added that no Pakistani has been asked to leave the country in recent weeks.

Why were some Pakistanis deported?

According to the sources, the Pakistanis deported from the UAE had been involved in offences connected to the war in the region and aggression against the UAE. The UAE government took a lenient view, the sources said: those concerned were not sent to prison and were not tried in courts, but were asked to leave the country. The sources said Pakistani immigrants have now fully understood the sensitivity of the matter.

What this means for travellers

Pakistani nationals applying for UAE visas can expect online processing at roughly the previous monthly volume, according to the sources. The sources gave no details of visa categories, fees, processing times or application procedures, and no start date was announced for any specific change. Travellers should confirm the current requirements for their own visa type before making plans.

The sources also credited the new UAE ambassador, Salem Mohammed Al Zaabi, with playing a constructive role in improving relations. They noted that Pakistan and the UAE have maintained a strategic, economic and cultural partnership since the establishment of the UAE in 1971, with trade between the two countries hovering around $8 billion, spanning energy, consumer goods and real estate investments. No further announcements have been made.